Automatic safety control for motion picture projection rooms and equipment



May 30, 1933. D 5 KEPLER ET AL 1,911,999

AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT Filed June 10, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 1 he l AAIAAAA M H635 41. E L' W 9] zzzir/ficfi INVENTORS h 1- 2 BY A TTORNEY May 30, 1933- s KEPLER ET AL 1,911,999

AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS AND E UIPMENT Filed June 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 q S. e [er 2' firm-1A.- fins 6/ INVENTOR A TTORNEY May 30. 1933. D. s. KEPLER ET AL AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 Filed June 10, 1930 r R E r am m a 0 im H SET. A HQ mm 1C ar 07 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DARRELL S. KEPLER AND ARCHIE E.

IRONS, F SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROL FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT Application filed .Tune 10,

This invention relates to attachments for motion picture projection machines for the purpose of preventing fires, or in the case of a fire automatically closing all openings in projection room.

A further object of this invention is to provide a complete automatic safety system for preventing film fires,or if a fire should occur, to provide automatic means for 1 instantly closing all portholes that open into an auditorium from the projection room.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for changing from one machine to another machine simultaneously whereby one dowser is raised allowing the passage of light to penetrate a film, while a dowser is moved on a second machine to a position shutting ofi passage of light from this machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for automatically opening a switch which controls a dowser and general motor, whenever the film is not functioning in a normal manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide ameans for automatically closing all portholes or openings leading from a projection room when heat from any source is developed within projection room beyond a predetermined point.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for starting the projection machine by manual means and thereby setting all the safety control attachments.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a projection machine showing a portion of a projection room in cross section.

1930. Serial No. 460,148.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan showing electrical hook-up of the device.

Figure 3 is a detailed enlarged View of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed view in cross section of a portion of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is an end view of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a detailed view with parts broken away of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a detailed view in cross section of Fig. 1.

Figure 9 is a Fig. 1.

Figure 10 is a detailed view of Fig. 1-.

Figure 11 is a detailed view with parts broken away of Fig. 1.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that there is installed within a projection room 1 an ordinary projection machine 2. It will be seen that there is provided a lamp house 3, a mechanism 4 to which is attached the usual upper magazine 5 and the lower magazine 6.

In order to make clear the operation and uses of the various attachments of this invention it will be seen that when the operator lifts an operating handle 7 (see Figs. 1 and 11) a switch 8 is closed thereby startso ing a motor, at the same time'removing tension from a dowser control wire 9 and causing a latch arm 10 to be seated on a latch 11 which is hung in a pivoted manner by means of a pivot pin 12. It will be seen that the dowser control wire, 9 is encased within a flexible tubing 13. When the operating handle 7 is raised it will be seen that an arm 14 functions with a control lever 15 which is pivoted at a point 16 and passes through an opening of the arm 14 at a point 17 Due to a curved upper end 18 a lower end 19 is moved to the right thereby causing tension release ofthe dowser control wire 9.

It is assumedthat an arc lamp within the lamp house 3 is functioning and the operator moves the dowser 20 out of the path of light by operating a handle 21. Ordinarily if all parts are functioning normally 100 detailed perspective view of the machine will project a picture from a film 22 which is passing downwardly from the upper magazine 5 to the lower magazine 6. However if passage of the film 22 should be interrupted in any way automatic action will immediately be set up through an up per film control switch 23, or by a lower film control switch 24.

By referring to F ig. it will be seen that should the film 22 for any reason become interrupted or out of normal position an actuating arm 25 will be caused to move up or down due to a roller 26 traveling on the film 22. The actuating arm is pivoted at a point 27 and is provided with a balancing spring 28 which carries the roller 26 in a normal contact with the film 22. Should a slack or a tension be placed in the film 22 it will be seen that a switch arm 29 will make contact with a switch 30 thereby actuating a magnet coil 31. (See Fig. 11.) This action will release the latch 11 when a coil spring 32 instantly opens switch 8.

By referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the lower film control switch 24 is held open by the film 22 when functioning normally. However should the movement of the film 22 become irregular and slack formed on the film 22 a switch arm 33 under spring control 34 closes a switch 35 which actuates the magnet coil 31 and sets up the same movement as above described when the switch 30 is closed.

By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that when the operating handle 21 has been moved the dowser 20 is raised clearing the light beams from are lamp. It will be seen that the operating handle 21 and the dowser 20 are secured upon a shaft 36. This action causes a spring tension latch arm 37 to function with a latch 38 which is formed in a pivoted latch bar 39 being pivoted ata point 40 by means of a pivot pin 41 which causes latch arm 37 to be held in a latched position. hen the switch 8 has been opened either automatically or manually as above described tension will be placed upon the dowser control wire 9 thereby actuating the latch bar 39 and releasing the spring tension latch arm 37. When the spring tension latch arm 37 has been released the shaft 36 will be instantly rotated swinging the dowser 20 cutting off the light beams from the are lamp.

By referring to Figs. 3, 5, and 6 it will be seen that there is provided a plunger switch 42 which closes a switch 43 causing a magnet coil 44 to be actuated and unlatching a dowser similar to 20 on a companion projector. This action takes place simultaneously as the spring tension latch arm 37 is released depressing the plunger switch 42 and opening the dowser 20.

By referring to Fig. 7 it will be seen that there is provided a porthole shutter 45 which is held in place by a latch 46. It

will also be seen that there is provided a secondary latch 47 coacting in such a manner as to cause th latch 46 to latch into a latch seat 48 of the secondary latch 47. 49 indicates an iron plate so arranged as to act as a magnet armature. This magnet armature 49 is secured to an upper arm of the secondary latch member 47 by means of a pivot pin 50 functioning with a bracket 51. It will be seen that there is provided a contact switch 52 which is electrically connected to a magnet coil 53. 54 represents a pivot pin support latch 46 and is held and functions with a support member 55. The contact switch 52 and magnet coil are supplied with electric current by means of electric wires 56.

If for any reason current is passing through wires 56 the magnet coil 53 is actu- V hole shutter 45 then causes the latch 46 to A swing downward. This action releases the porthole shutter 45 allowing it to fall and also releases tension of latch 46 against the contact switch 52 which causes the electric circuitsupplying current to the magnet coil to be broken.

Fig. 7 shows the switch 52 closed and held in this position by means of an arm 57 which is an extension of the latch 46.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 8 that there is shown an enlarged detailed cross section of view of an electrical switch 58. which is held in open position by means of removable and replaceable fuse or inflammable link 59. I intense heat should cause the fuse or inflammable link 59 to be broken, a coil spring 60 will exert energy to close the electrical switch 58 causing electric current to pass If. for any reason, fire or.

through wires 61 to wires 56. thereby dropping the porthole shutter 45 as above described. It will also be seen that the electrical switch 58 is slideably maintained within a sleeve 62 in order that the same may be easily and rapidly removed and re-.

position the switch proper rests against eontact arms 63.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that there is provided a push button 64 which may be manually operated to actuate the magnet coil 31 which sets up a series of...

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that means are provided to reduce the voltage through the use of a transformer or a resistance 66 depending upon the nature of the current used. By this means the danger of the grounds or short circuits are reduced to a minimum. It will also be seen that should any contacts be made in this circuit the main switch 8 will be opened thereby stopping the current on all wired parts within the projector and eliminating the possibility of electrical sparks.

What we claim is 1. In a device of the class described comprising a projection machine, a lamp house, and an upper and lower film magazine, a film functioning in said magazines in combination with a port-hole shutter, a latching means for holding said port-hole shutter in an open position, a removable and replaceable fuse, a coil spring held under compression by said fuse, a sleeve, an electrical switch closer slideable maintained within said sleeve for the purpose of preventing the tripping of said latching means when said fuse has not been subjected to heat suflicientto melt the same in order to automatically control the closing of said port-hole shutter, an electrical circuit, an electrically actuated latch releasing means, said electrical switch closer closing said electrical circuit and thereby actuating said electrically actuated latch releasing means to close said shutter.

2. In a device of the class, described comprising a projection machine, a lamp house, and an upper and lower film magazine, a film functioning in said magazines in combination with a port-hole shutter, a latching means for holding said port-hole shutter in an open position, a removable and replace able inflammable link, a coil spring held under compression by said inflammable link, a sleeve, an electrical switch closer slideably maintained within said sleeve for the purpose of preventing the tripping of said latching means when said inflammable link has not been subjected to heat suificient to melt the same in order to automatically con trol the closing of said port-hole shutter, an electrical circuit closed by said electrical switch closer and the thereby electrically actuated latch releasing means for said shutter.

3. In a device of the class described comprising a projection machine, a lamp house, and an upper and lower film magazine, a film functioning in said magazines in combination with a port-hole shutter, a latching means for holding said port-hole shutter in an open position, a removable and replaceable inflammable link, a coil spring held under compression by said inflammable link, a sleeve, an electrical switch closer sideably maintained within said sleeve for the purpose of preventing the tripping of said latching means when said inflammable link has not been subjected to heat suflieient to melt the same in order to automatically control the closing of said port-hole shutter, an electrical circuit, an electrically actuated latch releasing means, said electrical switch In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

ARCHIE E. IRONS. DARRELL S. KEPLER. 

